Whiz Kid: Fourth Grader Learns About Village Government

The council meetings are usually filled with the same faces from week to week. The council sits at the dais, flanked by Village Attorney Matt Rogers, Village Clerk Heather Mailander and Village Manager Ken Gabbert. Camera operators for the Channel 77 broadcast move the lenses and reporters Mike Sedon of The Ridgewood News and I scribble notes. Residents Boyd Loving and Roger Weigand are sure to be there and an assortment of neighbors concerned with anything from shopping carts to Valley, from Graydon to the dog park, join in on the action depending on the agenda.

But at a late January council meeting, there was one unfamiliar face–Ridge 4th grader Sophia Swanson. Swanson too had been taking notes; the council member (at Ridge, that is) did a school paper on learning a bit about local government and even got to sit in the mayor's chair at the end of the meeting.

Here's our interview with Sophia.

Patch: How did you get involved in learning about how government works?

Sophia Swanson: I am in the Journalism LEAP (Lunchtime Enrichment Activities Program) group at Ridge Elementary. LEAP is a program for when the weather is too bad for us to go outside, so it takes place in January and February. 

Since I am on the Student Council at Ridge, I thought it would be cool to learn about government outside of Ridge. My first choice for my article beat was local government and that's what I got. Now it's my job to find out about Government.  I can't meet Barack Obama (at least not anytime soon!) so I decided to start small and go with Ridgewood! You already saw me scribbling away at the council meeting!

Patch: What have you learned so far?

Swanson: In general, a lot of things! I learned that there are five people in the council: Deputy Mayor Riche, Councilman Wellinghorst, Councilman Aronsohn, Councilwoman Walsh, and Mayor Killion. They all got a elected on to the council by the people of Ridgewood. They work together to decide what's best for Ridgewood, and vote on the final decision. Some of the things they work together on is public works, the library, and the parks and rec. 

Some of the things they recently finished or are working on are lowering parking lot rates, making new baseball fields, and a new fire department contract. 

A major issue the council faces is the extremely low budget of Ridgewood.  The council meets twice every week.  At the public meetings, people with complaints, issues, compliments, that kind of sort can come forward. One lady was upset because she thought the dog park should be moved. Another thing I learned was that since the BF track got in place, one of the two baseball fields was replaced.  One council member thought it was ridiculous, the whole thing.

One last thing I learned was that the Mayor's seat is very comfortable! 

Patch: What have you found to be the most interesting aspect of government operations?

Swanson: The process of the meeting was very interesting. First, there was the introduction to it all–the basics, then there was the little comments from the public, and the routine, the discussing of little topics, the issues regarding Graydon and parking fee adjustments, the manager's and commitee's reports, and more comments from the public.

Also, there are lots of different issues in Ridgewood that I never knew about.  I thought it was neat that they discussed almost every topic very precisely. I left knowing much more about what was going on in Ridgewood. Gosh, and to think there is so much more left to learn about the very village I live in!

Patch: What's your favorite subject in school?

Swanson: Reading and Writing. Definitely. I love settling in my bed and reading a good book, preferably fantasy and realistic fiction. I can slip into unknown worlds in books, and be my own character, physically feeling everything, seeing everything, hearing everything. I can even feel emotions through books. 

In writing, I love being the creator of what my characters do, say, feel, everything. I can totally morph anything I want to into anything I want to. It gives me a sense of power to be in control of my own story. Writing gives me a chance to express everything and anything. Math is okay. I'm a pretty good speller, courtesy of all the reading I do. Social Studies and Science are really fun. Of course, Specials: Music, P.E., Art, and Library are tons of happiness to me and probably everyone else in my grade.

Patch: Is there anything else you wish to share?

Swanson: Speaking of parks and rec., I am an active member of almost all the sports they offer. I participate in Biddy basketball, travel basketball, lacrosse, softball, and soccer. At the Stable, I love taking art classes with Mrs. C. every Tuesday. 

I love traveling, fashion designing, reading, and writing stories whenever I can. I am also quite tech-savvy, if you sit me in front of a computer, I'll just type, type away!

[Editor's Note: This article incorrectly identified Swanson as a 5th grader; she's in 4th grade. The correction has been made.]